Welcome
The 3rd European Whitefly Symposium
20th - 24th October 2008
An international congress venue at:
The Hotel Playadulce, Aguadulce, Almeria, Spain
Whiteflies remain one of the most problematic pest species worldwide. They are responsible for a wide range of crop losses through direct feeding and indirectly through the transmission of plant viruses.
With the international trade in plant stocks and produce, whitely species and associated viruses are able to spread to new locations. New species appearing in new areas can often lead to serious problems where infestations escalate in the absence of effective natural enemies.
The movement of whiteflies can also lead to the appearance of other problems, where for example insecticide resistance genes can be spread to new areas. The recent appearance of the Q biotype of Bemisia tabaci in the USA has highlighted this. The Q biotype is assumed to be indigenous strain from the Mediterranean region where resistance to a wide range of available insecticides has already been reported.
The third European Whitefly Symposium (EWS3) will be held within one of the largest and most important protected agricultural regions of southern Europe where whiteflies are one of the most important crop protection issues; Almeria, Southern Spain. Industry and science have gained considerable knowledge and experience in addressing whitefly-related issues within this region of Andalusia which now provides a perfect location for EWS3.
Six scientific themes covered by this symposium are:
- Faunistics, Systematics & Ecology,
- Whitefly Transmitted Viruses & Epidemiology,
- Whitefly Natural Enemies,
- Whitefly control and Integrated Pest Management
- Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolics
- Whitefly - Host-Plant Interactions
The symposium will feature a Technology Transference session on Friday, 24th of October for researchers, technicians ands horticrop producers during which updated information and new challenges on crop protection, virus diseases and biological pest control will be discussed.
Scientists, industrialists, growers and plant health officials along with anyone else interested in whitefly research and control are strongly encouraged to attend.
Student participation is also encouraged through a discounted registration fee and
an award for the best presented student poster.
